(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL – French authorities deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes Thursday as up to 780,000 demonstrators were expected to join nationwide protests over the rising cost of living and demands for higher wages.
According to French broadcaster BFMTV, an alliance of labor unions projected that between 500,000 and 700,000 people would participate in demonstrations outside Paris, while another 40,000 to 80,000 protesters were expected in the capital.
Workers, government employees, retirees and members of the Yellow Vest movement were expected to join high school and university students in calling for wage increases and government measures to improve purchasing power.
The demonstrations follow a student-led protest movement that began in mid-September amid growing concerns over living expenses.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Wednesday that security arrangements for the nationwide demonstrations would be “exactly the same” as those implemented during protests on October 31.
Authorities mobilized 26 armored vehicles, approximately 15 water cannon vehicles, helicopters and drones to monitor demonstrations and respond to possible disturbances.
Specialized police units, including the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI), RAID and the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN), were also placed on standby.
Nunez said the security deployment was intended to ensure the “safest possible routes” for demonstrators while preventing disruptions in sensitive areas, particularly major city centers.
In Paris, an administrative court upheld the police prefecture’s designated protest route from Place de la République to Place de la Nation after organizers challenged the restrictions.
Labor unions and student organizations had initially proposed marching from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Concorde, near the National Assembly.
However, police rejected the proposed route, citing heightened social tensions and disturbances recorded in the capital on October 17.
The nationwide strike was also expected to disrupt public transportation, particularly regional and suburban rail services.
France’s national railway operator, SNCF, warned passengers of moderate to severe disruptions on regional train routes and interruptions affecting several suburban lines serving Paris.
Long-distance rail operations were expected to experience fewer disruptions, although approximately one in 10 high-speed TGV services was scheduled for cancellation.
Authorities continued monitoring the demonstrations as unions pressed their demands for improved wages and stronger government action to address the rising cost of living.
